H.E. Mr. Parnpree Bhahiddha-Nukara, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, joined the Prime Minister’s Delegation to attend the ASEAN – Japan Commemorative Summit for the 50^th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation in Tokyo during 14 – 18 December 2023. On 15 December 2023, the Deputy Prime Minister gave a speech at the Thailand – Japan Investment Forum, hosted by the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), with an emphasis on proactive economic diplomacy as a tool to propel foreign policy to a new era, increase competitiveness, and drive economic growth for both Thailand and Japan. Thailand stands ready to turn economic ties between Thailand and Japan into genuine economic partnership.

In addition to joining Thailand – Japan Investment Forum and other missions along with the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister also participated in other missions, as follows:

On 15 December 2023, the Deputy Prime Minister had a meeting with the Japan-Thailand Parliamentarians Friendship Group. Both sides discussed enhancing cooperation, especially on building a network among Japanese politicians, who are “Friends of Thailand”, and ways to promote the exchange of visits between Thai and Japanese parliamentarians to strengthen bilateral relations. The Thai side is confident that both countries can enhance cooperation on various areas, especially on economy, trade and investment, and public health.

On 16 December 2023, the Deputy Prime Minister had a bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People Democratic’s Republic. Both sides attached importance to enhancing cooperation on key areas, such as exchanges of high-level visits, tourism, land connectivity and logistics, as well as solving the transboundary haze pollution. Thailand will offer strong support the Lao PDR’s role as the Chair of ASEAN in 2024 in forging cooperation among ASEAN member countries in address regional issues. 

In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister met with Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN on 17 December 2023, where the former highlighted enhancing ASEAN’s solidarity and expressed gratitude to the Secretary-General of ASEAN for his support to Thailand as the ASEAN Coordinator for Sustainable Development Cooperation and the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-Japan Dialogue Relations. Both sides also discussed other topics, such as promoting digital economy, sustainability agenda, ASEAN centrality, and the situation in Myanmar.

On 18 December 2023, the last day of the Visit to Japan, the Deputy Prime Minister met with H.E. Mr. Saito Ken, the newly appointed Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and discussed ways forward to promote cooperation in future industries to boost the economy, such as EV and hydrogen vehicles, clean energy, biofuels, and decarbonization. The Deputy Prime Minister underscored the importance of human resource development and an additional transfer of technology, knowledge, and deep technology, in order for Thailand to further develop its future industries. Moreover, both sides discussed the possibility of working on Energy and Industrial Dialogue, a framework proposed by Japan.